News In Brief

Senate Republicans were expected to muster party-line majorities to defeat a motion to dismiss the impeachment case and to approve a bid to depose witnesses. But it seemed likely the balloting would also demonstrate the Democrats' ability to block the two-thirds majority needed to remove President Clinton from office. Majority leader Trent Lott reportedly won over some wavering Republicans on the witness issue after House prosecutors restricted the witness list to former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, Washington attorney Vernon Jordan, and White House aide Sidney Blumenthal.

House majority leader Dick Armey called for a sweeping 10 percent tax cut. The initiative would reduce individual and corporate income taxes, capital-gains taxes, and inheritance taxes - but would not affect the Social Security tax, an aide said. It was unclear whether the plan would gain support in the Senate, where GOP leaders have only proposed a 10 percent reduction in individual income taxes.

The US will use a so-called "Super 301" process to force some trade partners to reduce barriers to American exports, Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky told the Senate Finance Committee. She said a Super 301 review will begin March 31 with the posting of a country-by-country accounting of trade barriers. A month later, a list of targeted countries will be released, kicking off 90 days of intense negotiations. Many nations resent such bilateral diplomacy, preferring instead to have trade disputes settled through a neutral body, such as the Geneva-based World Trade Organization.